“Make room for kindness”: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urges Singaporeans to give way to people with “greater need” to use lift

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has called on the public to “Make room for kindness” after he received a letter from a mother who was distressed over her experience at a mall, where she said she was not able to enter a lift with her baby in a stroller.

“Singapore has a culture of queuing,” wrote Mr Lee. “Some even joke that it’s a national pastime. But if there is one place we should wait in line, it is at the lift.” He also shared the mother’s story, saying that though her baby urgently needed a diaper change, she ended up just taking the escalator. “There were too many people and no one would give way to her,” his post read. “After a long wait, she felt she had no choice but to take the escalator, which is not so safe for strollers.”

Mr Lee then reminded Singaporeans that certain people need lifts more than others. “Besides parents with strollers, some others too will have greater need to use a lift – persons with disabilities, seniors, and pregnant women,” he wrote. “COVID-19 has shown us that we are a caring society. Let’s all show consideration for those in need and make room for kindness.”

Mr Lee also shared a video by the Singapore Kindness Movement, reminding people to give priority to people with strollers or personal mobility devices. “This small act not only shows consideration for those in need, it also ensures their safety as they can avoid taking the escalators and stairs,” the post read.

A few netizens shared their personal stories wherein they experienced something similar.